1.3 Million Visitors impact the Local Ecomony!!

The following information is a press release from Bryce Canyon National Park regarding the impact of visitors to the Bryce Canyon area. The National Parks are a great asset to the economic system and an amazing preservation of beautiful places!! Thanks for coming to visit!!

BRYCE CANYON, UTAH – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 1,311,875 visitors to Bryce Canyon National Park in 2013 spent $105,745,800 in communities near the park. That spending supported 1,442 jobs in the local area.

“Bryce Canyon welcomes visitors from across America and around the world,” said Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh. “Our park staff and partners are delighted to share the stunning scenery, natural beauty and human history of the area and to provide exemplary outdoor experiences for visitors. We are pleased to help introduce visitors to Bryce Canyon Country and Scenic Byway 12 and all that this part of the country has to offer. National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy – returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service – and it’s a huge factor in our local economy as well. We appreciate the partnerships and support of our public land neighbors and local businesses, and are glad to be able help sustain local communities.”

The 2013 economic benefit figures differ somewhat from the 2012 results, which were reported earlier this year. At Bryce Canyon National Park 1,385,352 visitors in 2012 spent $108,946,200 in communities near the park, supporting 1,501 jobs in the local area.

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber, and Lynne Koontz for the National Park Service. The authors of the report said the federal government shutdown in October 2013 accounted for most of the national decline in park visitation. The economists also cited inflation adjustments for differences between visitation and visitor spending, jobs supported and overall effect on the U.S. economy.

Nationally, the report shows $14.6 billion of direct spending by 273.6 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported more than 237,000 jobs nationally, with more than 197,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.5 billion.

According to the 2013 economic analysis, most visitor spending was for lodging (30.3 percent) followed by food and beverages (27.3 percent), gas and oil (12.1 percent), admissions and fees (10.3 percent) and souvenirs and other expenses (10 percent).

The largest jobs categories supported by visitor spending were food and beverage establishments (50,000 jobs) and lodging (38,000 jobs).

To download the report visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm

The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.

To learn more about national parks in Utah and how the National Park Service works with Utah communities to help preserve local history, conserve natural resources, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/UTAH.